HC Deb 20 May 1881 vol 261 cc945-6
MR. FIRTH

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he is aware that the Corporation of London claim to have a monopoly of fish markets over the Metropolitan area, and that the only existing fish market in London is at the river-side at Bil- lingsgate; whether he is aware that persons who control this market prevent enormous quantities of fish coming to London, by telegraphing to the ports of supply, whenever there is a risk of prices being unduly lowered, thereby depriving the London poor of an important article of food; whether it is the fact that three-fourths of the fish supply of London comes by rail, and has to be carted down to Billingsgate; whether it is not the fact that Billingsgate is difficult of access, destitute of unloading accommodation, and utterly unfit for the purpose of a land-borne fish market; whether the facts as to Billingsgate are not confirmed in a recent Report made by Mr. Spencer Walpole to the Home Department, and whether he does not further state that the risk of fish going bad is increased by the delays, constantly extending for hours, and occasionally extending over days, which are due to the inadequate approaches to and want of room outside of Billingsgate; and, whether (in the absence of any representative government in London) he will take any means to protect the interests of Londoners in the matter of an important article of food supply?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

The facts stated by my hon. Friend on this question are substantially true. There is no doubt that the market of Billingsgate is entirely inadequate for the supply of the Metropolis. That, I believe, is not denied on any hand, and is not denied by the Corporation or by the Fishmongers' Company. But the great evil is the want of access to the market, which leads to a deficiency of supply in one of the most valuable articles of food. I forwarded a few days ago to the Lord Mayor the Report by Mr. Spencer Walpole on this subject, asking that the Corporation would give me advice as to what measures they intended to take to obviate this great public evil. I have not yet received an answer to the question; but when I have received a Report I shall have to consider what further steps require to be taken in this matter.